Flash Appeals NATF/ACAPS Training Revinge 2010

When is a Flash appeal issued? Part of the Consolidated Appeals Process, the FA is considered as the humanitarian sector’s main tool for coordination, strategic planning and programming. The FA should in theory be triggered by the UN RC/HC in consultation with major stakeholders within two days of a major sudden onset disaster or in response to an ongoing or slow onset crisis According to UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182, it is then issued within a week of the emergency's onset for up to six months (and can be developed into a consolidated appeal if the emergency continues beyond six months)

When is a FA issued? There is neither an exhaustive list of types of emergencies a flash appeal can be used in, nor a universal set of thresholds that, when passed, would trigger a Flash appeal. The two key variables here are whether the needs exceed: (a) the capacity of the affected country government (b) the capacity and/or mandate of any one UN agency. Contains analysis of needs, a common humanitarian action plan (CHAP), specific sector response plans and projects.

Revision of Flash Appeals Revisions are necessary because Flash appeals are, of necessity, written within a short timeframe and using incomplete information Revisions should take place within about 4 weeks of the publication of the original appeal Revisions also accomplish the following: –Present up-to-date information –Outline progress made –Assess the effectiveness of current strategy –Update sector/cluster response plans –Reprioritize humanitarian response activities –Analyze funding –Advocate for donor support

Needs analysis for the revised FA: who? Two to three weeks after the initial Flash appeal or days before its finalization: -The HCT, in consultation with the relevant authorities and donors should at this point held a meeting to agree on clear parameters for defining the general boundaries and scope of the appeal. At this consultation, the HCT also agrees on key changes in needs, agrees on strategic priorities and objectives as well as scenarios. Needs analysis for the revised FA: who and by when?

Following this consultation, in the suggested CAP section timeline, approx. 10 days until the finalization of the appeal are then required for: - the sector/cluster leads to draft the sector response plans and review their needs analysis with regard to the latest assessment information, -the OCHA office finalizes the general parts of the appeal (needs analysis, objectives, scenario) -sector/cluster leads then reconfirm that all project proposals counted in their sector of the flash appeal are still relevant and that all suitable proposals are included (especially NGO proposals) in the Online Project System -finally all sector leads are responsible for ensuring the vetting, prioritization approval of projects

Needs analysis and the template for the revised FA 1)Executive summary -overall number of people affected, -type of population affected, -priority areas affected, -priority sectors, -number of people targeted by the response 2) Key humanitarian and development fact box 3) Context analysis section 2

Needs analysis and the revised FA template 4) Humanitarian consequences and needs analysis section 3 more holistic view on the needs and present an inter-sectoral analysis magnitude (number and type of affected people, disaggregated to the extent possible by sex and age, with absolute and relative numbers) severity with criteria for analysing severity clear mapping or tabulation of needs and response for identification of remaining gaps, including coverage by the government of the concerned country and actors such as the ICRC geographic priority areas with number of persons affected by area Needs analysis and the template for the revised FA

5) revised sector response plans and projects number of people affected by sector, number of people targeted, number of people reached at the time of the revision, indication on key indicators used to assess needs for each sector.

What should the needs analysis provide the basis for in the FA? Defining and revising the strategic objectives for response Provide the basis for the prioritization of projects: the needs analysis data will also form the basis for defining criteria for the prioritization of projects done by cluster and sector leads under the overall responsibility of the RC/HC to ensure that donors cover the most urgent needs first.

TIMELINE: -timeliness of needs assessment data for revision CONTENT OF NEEDS ANALYSIS: -diverging number of people affected used across sectors which means that there is not necessarily a common story line -tendency to include absolute magnitude but not necessarily relative magnitude -evidence base for certain sectors is weak in the revision (no key indicators mentioned to assess needs, no reference to assessments or source of data) PROCESS: -inter-sectoral analysis usually less developed and can be a compilation of sectoral needs with insufficient linkages or prioritization of needs -the needs analysis section can be a desk review/compilation of sector specific analysis of the OCHA CAP focal point in the field Current challenges for needs analysis

Links and contacts Repository of all appeal documents and CAP-related training material: Financial Tracking Service: online database of all reported humanitarian funding to appeals and emergencies: Flash Appeal Guidelines and blank document template: &Page= &Page=1481 Contact Luke McCallin Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Flash Appeal Coordinator CAP Section, OCHA Geneva